John Walker
DUNCAN — Another Fourth of July will quickly be upon America and people across the country are starting to stockpile fireworks in expectation of the celebration on Saturday.
For the Stephens County area, those who want to launch their own fireworks will have to travel away from the municipalities into the county as long as there is no county or state wide burn ban in effect.
Velma, however, is the lone municipal exception in its policy for fireworks. For the better part of the year, launching fireworks is banned in Velma, but not on the Fourth of July.
For Duncan, Marlow and Comanche, fireworks are not allowed. Those communities, however, will have their own fireworks displays Saturday night.
In Duncan, if one wants to launch their own fireworks, there is a process that one can follow to become qualified to launch fireworks at a specific time and place.
“But the cost is pretty steep,” Duncan Fire Chief Larry Sullins said. “They have to have a pyrotechnic on hand and liability insurance.”
When Sullins outlines the requirements that are in place to become qualified, many people decide to forget the idea and travel into the county, he said.
“That’s probably the best thing to do for people who want to launch their own fireworks,” Sullins said. “It’s what I would do.”
Another option is to watch the city’s fireworks display, he said.
“Safety is always of great importance with fireworks,” Sullins said. “We can have a great time watching the fireworks display in the city.”
The complete city ordinance on fireworks within Duncan can be picked up at the fire administration office at city hall, Sullins said.
The ban is not limited to just city proper, it also applies to all the lakes, he said.
While Duncan is not unique in Stephens County for not allowing fireworks, there are several municipalities that have allowed its citizens to launch fireworks and have later regretted allowing the practice, Sullins said.
“One city I know of had a house catch on fire the first time they allowed fireworks,” Sullins said. “Allowing it brings more headaches than are necessary.”
Duncan’s police force will be on hand to monitor any complaints of illegal fireworks displays.
